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FOOTBALL IN ASHBURTON.

TO THI EDITOR. Sib, — r he enthusiasm which tv spread last year by the English and Maori playera virtually gave football a" place beilde rinkiDg among the maniai of the dey 1 he youth of Ashburton and Bakaia did not escape the general infeotion. Tfce old Football Olnbs, which for some yean had led very shadowy and sleepy existences, were resneoitated, and this year I find that they have amalgamated, forming the Ashbur'oa.Rakala Olnb »' with a dash." I never could ace why the Gouaty of A.shburton ihonld not have »»F>iotball Olab of the same stun ling as the Onrist. oharoh dubs. No one can deny that the County poaaesaea the raw material. Every. Ashburton youth is sound m wind and limb,' and the general run havt broad shoulders, a stoat heart and a hard heid — all eaiential qualities of c foot* bailer. Bat, as we have always been told, there ore great draff baoks. • Alh. bnrton Is Isolated, and there are not eaoagh players as yet to warrant the formation of two olabi. By saoh state* menti as these we were convinced of the utter Impossibility of getting np matches, and football without matohee is a veritable body without a boql. Everyone you ohaaced to speak to had the same unfavorable opinion about the snooeis of a olnb In Aabburton. The new Olub, however, has shown as * different side of the qaestlon, and the difficulties have vanished before theft entbualasm like the mist* before the morn< Ing oun. A good team has been got together and matches have been arranged} altogether the Aahburton-R«ka!a Football Olub has a promising outlook. They have already pUyed two matches. The fii-at, at Rakala against Southbrldge, re* aulted In a draw. Toe sew OlnV had » weak team, but fairly held their own with the vldtora. The aeooad, a>t home with the Llnooln College, wai lost by the majority of a goal j bat no one will aay that "our boys" wete a -bit. lnferior to the " cookatoos," and taje game was lost solely owing to the want of their full back, who, unfortunately, oould not get' away. Oo the whjrte the results of these first attempts must be flattering. to the looal Olnb when they compare them with the Initial effortn of other Oiubs. ' ' I look forward to the day, In oo Tory distant futqre, when the Oonnty will boast of three Football Olnb*— two al Aahburton and one at Bakaia j and these three will oomblne on occasions and give the Ohrlstshuroh full baoks plenty of work. ~ X ' As one who bis always taken ' greet Interest In the game of football let me enumerate oome of Us merit! and advantages, It will develop the physique of our youth, and at the same time cultivate the social side of their characters end make them/ good members of Every good footballer Is • gentleman. He bears reverses with equanimity ; he if aooustomed. to the ups and downs of life In every way you take It ; he has learnt that the best way to avenge knocks and bruises is to work bard an* patiently j and (« this not the true solution of the great problem of human life ? Who It there then that would not play football f Sad It Is that • lot of us ere too old end stiff to undergo such c training j but let v encourage our youth as far ac we era la their pursuit of a game 10 truly noble* I lOT. CtC, | , A Quondam Fljltib.

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